Domestic appliance door



Aug. 2, 1966' W. R. STEINER 3,264,047

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE DOOR Filed April 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILL/AM R. STE/NEE A T TOR/YE Y W. R. STEINER DOMESTIC APPLIANCE DOOR Aug. 2, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1965 INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. STE/IVER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,264,047 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE DOOR William R. Steiner, Rochester, Mich., assiguor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 450,354 7 Claims. (Cl. 312-214) This invention relates to refrigerator door constructions and more particularly to insulated refrigerator door constructions formed of sheet material.

Present-day refrigerator door constructions are characterized by the provision of relatively thin sheet front and rear panels joined at the sides thereof by side portions directed vertically on the door to form a space in which insulation is located to reduce the transfer of heat across the door member of the refrigerator. The lightweight sheet panels of the door are maintained rigid in many applications by a relatively strong insulating material such as a foamed polyurethane material.

One problem with door constructions of the aforementioned type that of arranging a handle member on the exterior thereof for applying a manual force on the door for moving it between its open and closed positions. Since the front panel on which the handle is attached is constructed of relatively thin sheet material, it is necessary to include relatively expensive reinforcing provisions in the construction to prevent unnecessary bulging of the thin sheet panel Where it connects to the handle portion. Furthermore, in present-day refrigerator design, it has been found desirable to continually reduce the cross section of the door handle for improving the appearance of the cabinet. Such handles are thereby more susceptible to failure than Was previously the case. An additional disadvantage of the practice of providing a separate door handle member connected on the front panel of a refrigerator door is that it is directed outwardly of the front of the door to a point where a user of the refrigerator, by inadvertence, may bump into the handle and suffer personal harm. This problem is especially noticeable with modern handle designs that often incorporate relatively sharp edges thereon.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is t improve refrigerator door constructions by eliminating outwardly directed handle portions thereon by the provision of a continuously vertically formed hand grip portion on one side of the door located forwardly of the front edge of the outer cabinet of the refrigerator whereby the door can be grasped anywhere along its side vertical extent to apply a manual force on the door for moving it between its open and closed positions.

A further object of the present invention is to improve refrigerator door constructions of the type including thin sectioned front and rear panels forming in cooperation with side portions an insulating containing space for preventing heat transfer across the door member by eliminating the connection of a door handle member on the thin sectioned front panel to prevent undesirable bulging or stress concentration buildup therein by the provision of a side portion on one side of the door member formed inwardly of the insulating space and connected to the front panel to form a hand grip portion on one side thereof throughout its vertical extent on which a manual force may be applied to move the door member into an open and closed position.

Still another object of the present invention is to improve refrigerator door constructions of the type including thin sectioned front and rear panels that in conjunction with side portions form a space filled with insulation for preventing heat transfer across the door by the provision of a member on one side of the door that joins the front "ice and rear panels thereof throughout the vertical extent of the front and rear panels at one side thereof wherein the member is located outwardly of the refrigerator cabinet and directed inwardly of the insulating space to form a hand grip section on the door behind the front panel at one side thereof throughout substantially the full vertical extent of the door that can be grasped by a user to apply a manual force on the door for moving it into its open and closed positions without undesirably deforming the thin sectioned front panel on the door.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: v

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet including the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in horizon tal section taken along the line 2- 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 4 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

In FIGURE 1 a refrigerator construction 10 is illustrated including an outer cabinet having a top 12, a rear wall 14, side walls 16 and 18 and a bottom wall 20 forming a food storage compartment therebetween. The refrigerator 10 also includes a front panel 22 including a representatively shown sheet metal portion thereon recessed inwardly of the front edge of the cabinet to form a collar 24 directed continuously around the cabinet to form a front access opening 26 into the interior food storage compartment of the refrigerator 10.

In accordance with certain of the principles of the present invention, the front access opening 26 is closed by a door member 28 having suitable pivot means including a pin 29 on one side thereof for connecting one side of the door member 28 to the front panel 22 for allowing outwardly swinging movement of the door member 28 with respect to the cabinet for opening and closing the access door opening 26. The door member 28 more particularly includes a thin sectioned inner panel 30 representatively shown as forming shelves on the inside surface of the door 28. Spaced outwardly of the inner panel 30 on the door is a thin sectioned outer panel 32. The inner and outer panels 30, 32 have their side edges joined by a rolled section side member 34 on one side thereof and a like rolled section side member 36 on the opposite side thereof. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention each of the side members 34, 36 are joined to the inner panel 30 by suitable fastening means shown as screws 38. The screws 38 serve to connect a resilient sealing member 40 on the outside surface of the inner panel 30 continuously around the outer periphery thereof so that the resilient seal member 40 will sealingly engage the front surface of the collar 24 when the door 28 is in its closed position as shown in FIGURES 2 through 4. In the illustrated arrangement the seal 40 more particularly is held against the outside surface of the inner panel 30 by a retaining element 42 that has a tip portion 44 thereon interlockingly connected with a rear edge portion 46 on the seal 40.

The inner panel 30, outer panel 32 and side members 34, 36 form an open-ended space in the door member 28 that is filled with thermal insulating material 48 representa tively shown as being a foamed polyurethane insulating material that has a predetermined amount of rigidity for preventing undesirable bulging or buckling in the thin surrounding sheet metal panels described above.

In accordance with certain of the principles of the present invention, the outer panel 32 has outwardly directed side portions 50, 52 thereon extending from a central region 54 on the front panel 32 that is representatively shown as being located generally in a vertical plane. The side portions 50 are bent over at the ends thereof at 55, 56 respectively to form a flattened edge or fingertip portion along the full vertical extent of each side of the door member 28.

The side member 34 has one end 58 thereon connected to the inner panel 30 and a forwardly bent portion 60 that extends vertically on the side of the door closure member 28 within the front recess in the outer cabinet of the refrigerator 10. The side member 34 also includes a portion 62 bent at substantially right angles to the portion 60 to form a vertical surface of the door 28 extending throughout its height substantially at the front edge of the outer cabinet front 22, as best seen in FIGURE 4. The portion 62 extends a predetermined distance into the interior of the door closure member 28- and is then formed to an outwardly directed portion 64 arranged in general spaced parallelism with the side portion 50 of the outer panel 32. The terminus end 66 of the portion 64 is representatively shown as being bent over and joined to the inside surface of the side portion 50 by suitable means such as spot welding.

The side member portions 62 and 64 form an inwardly directed pocket 68 throughout the vertical extent of one side of the door member 28 at a point located forwardly of the front edge of the front 22 of the refrigerator cabinet which, as shown in FIGURE 1, represents a readily accessible hand grip portion on the door member 28 on which a force can be manually applied to pivot the door 28 between its open and closed positions.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the side member 36 is formed as a mirror image of the side member 34 to include an end portion 70 connected to the inner panel 30, a vertically extending side strip portion 72, a front face portion 74 and an outwardly curved portion 76 that has its terminus end 78 joined to the righthand side portion 52 of the door for forming a pocket 80 on the right-hand side of the illustrated door member 28. The illustrated configuration of the side member 36 is provided to balance the appearance of the door closure member 28 and if desired, the side member 36 can be modified to eliminate the pocket 80 on the right-hand side of the door.

The open-ended space filled with insulation 48 is closed at its top and bottom by a collar member 82 that is configured like the wing tips on either side of the outer panel 32 along its outer periphery. One of the collar members 82 fits over each of the upper and bottom edges of the outer panel 32 and the side members 34, 36, as best seen in FIGURE 1. The upper collar member 82 has a top 84 thereon that overlies a rearwardly directed bent-over portion 86 on the outer panel 32 located at the top edge thereof and directed rearwardly of the center portion 54 thereof. Between the members 84 and 86 a forwardly bent tab 88 on a rearwardly located cover member 90 is directed to be secured along with the top 84 by suitable means shown as screws 92 to the portion 86 on the outer panel 32. The cover 90 includes downwardly depending tabs 94, 95 on either side thereof to locate the cover 90 on the part of the door member 28 located within the recess formed in the front 22 of the refrigerator cabinet. The cover 90 is secured at its rear wall to the rear panel 30 by the screw 38, as best shown in FIGURE 3. A like arrangement is provided at the bottom of the door member 28.

To improve the appearance of the door member 28, a suitable decorative strip 96 is formed over the fingertip 55 of the side portion 50 of the front panel 32 and the exposed surface of the side member 34 as seen in FIGURE 4. Similarly, a like decorative strip 97 is formed over 4 the fingertip 56 and the side member 36 on the other side of the door member 28 as best seen in FIGURE 2.

By virtue of the above illustrated embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that a door closure configuration is shown that is especially suitable for refrigerators in that it includes an inwardly formed out-of-the-way hand grip portion therealong that eliminates the need for the connection of a handle member on a thin sectioned front panel of the door. Furthermore, the hand grip portion on the door is formed as part of the door that forms the insulating space therein and it is directed throughout the vertical extent of the door whereby the door 28 is readily grippable at any point therealong to be swung between its open and closed positions.

The illustrated arrangement of the embodiment also sets forth a configuration wherein the hand grip portion on the door does not protrude undesirably into the space surrounding the refrigerator 10 so that a person might inadvertently strike the hand grip portion as is the case with many refrigerator door handles and the like presently in use.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising, enclosure means including top, bottom, rear and side walls forming a food storage compartment having a front access opening thereto, a door closure for closing said access opening, means on one side of said closure for pivotally connecting said closure on said enclosure for outward pivotal movement with respect to said enclosure for opening said access opening, said door closure including a front panel, a rear panel and first and second side portions joined to said front and rear panels to form a space therebetween, insulation means filling said space for limiting heat transfer across said closure, oneof said side portions being directed inwardly of said space to form a pocket behind one side of said front panel throughout substantially the full vertical height of said door closure, said one side of said front panel in conjunction with said inwardly directed side portion forming a hand grip on said door closure located forwardly of said enclosure throughout the vertical height of said door closure at one side thereof for applying a manual force to said door for moving it between its open and closed positions.

2. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising, enclosure means including top, bottom, rear and side walls forming a food storage compartment having a front access opening thereto, a door closure for closing said access opening, means on one side of said closure for pivotally connecting said closure on said enclosure for outward pivotal movement with respect to said enclosure for opening said access opening, said door closure including a front panel, a rear panel and first and second side portions joined to said front and rear panels to form a space therebetzween, insulation means filling said space for limiting heat transfer across said closure, one of said side portions being directed inwardly of said space to form a pocket behind one side of said front panel throughout substantially the full vertical height of said door closure, said one of said side portions having a flat surface portion located substantially in alignment with the front edge of said enclosure, said outwardly bent one side of said front panel in conjunction with said inwardly directed side portion forming a hand grip on said door closure available throughout the vertical height of said door closure at one side thereof for applying a manual force to said door for moving it between its open and closed positions.

3. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising a sheet metal enclosure including top, bottom, rear and side Walls forming a food storage compartment having a front access opening thereto, a sheet metal collar formed on said enclosure continuously around said access opening located at a point recessed from the front edge of said enclosure, a door member for closing said access opening, means on one side of said door member for pivotally connecting it on said enclosure for outward pivotal movement with respect to said enclosure for opening and closing said access opening, said door member including a front panel, a rear panel and side portions for forming an open-ended space, insulation means in said space for reducing heat transfer across said door member, one of said side portions being formed of sheet metal having a rolled section including a portion in the plane of said rear panel and a portion located forwardly of the front edge of said enclosure rolled inwardly of said space and outwardly thereof to be joined to said front panel at a point spaced forwardly of the front edge of said enclosure, said inwardly and outwardly rolled portions of said rolled section forming a hand grip extending throughout substantially the full vertical height of said door member at one side thereof for applying a manual force to said door member for moving it between open and closed positions.

4. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising, enclosure means including top, bottom, rear and side walls forming a food storage compartment having a front access opening thereto, a door closure for closing said access opening, means on one side of said closure for pivotally connecting said closure on said enclosure for outward pivotal movement with respect to said enclosure for opening said access opening, said door closure including a front panel, a rear panel and first and second side portions joined to said front and rear panels to form an open-ended space therebetween, insulation means filling said space for limiting heat transfer across said closure, end caps fitted over the edges of said panels and side portions for closing the end openings to said space, said front panel having one side thereof bent outwardly thereof, one of said side portions being directed inwardly of said space to form a pocket behind said outwardly bent one side of said front panel throughout substantially the full vertical height of said door closure, said outwardly bent one side of said front panel in conjunction with said inwardly directed side portion forming a hand grip on said door closure available throughout the vertical height of said door closure at one side thereof for applying a manual force to said door for moving it between its open and closed positions.

5. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising, enclosure means including top, bottom, rear and side walls forming a food storage compartment having a front access opening thereto, a door closure for closing said access opening, means on one side of said closure for pivotally connecting said closure on said enclosure for outward pivotal movement with respect to said enclosure for opening said access opening, said door closure including a front panel, a rear panel and first and second side portions joined to said front and rear panels to form a space 'therebetween, insulation means filling said space for limiting heat transfer across said closure, said front panel having one side thereof bent outwardly thereof, one of said side portions being directed inwardly of said space to form a pocket behind said outwardly bent one side of said front panel throughout substantially the full vertical height of said door closure, said outwardly bent one side of said front panel in conjunction with said inwardly directed side portion forming a hand grip on said door closure available throughout the vertical height of said door closure at one side thereof for applying a manual force to said door for moving it between its open and closed positions.

6. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising, a food storage enclosure including top, bottom, rear and side walls forming an interior compartment having a front access opening thereto, a door closure for said access opening thereto, a door closure for said access opening, means on one side of said closure for pivotally connecting said closure on said enclosure for outward pivotal movement "with respect to said enclosure for opening and closing said access opening, said cabinet enclosure including a sheet metal collar formed continuously around said access opening at a point recessed from the front edge of said enclosure around said access opening, said door closure including a front panel, a rear panel and first and second side portions joined to said front and rear panels to form a space therebetween, seal means continuously directed around the access opening and supported on said rear panel for sealingly engaging said enclosure collar when said door closure is in its closed position, said front panel having a side portion thereon directed outwardly of the front of said enclosure at a predetermined inclination with respect to the rest of said front panel, said outwardly directed side portion extending outwardly of the front edge of said enclosure, one of said side portions of said door closure being directed inwardly of said space to form a pocket behind said outwardly flared side of said front panel throughout substantially the full vertical extent of said door closure, said pocket in said side portion and said outwardly flared side of said front panel in conjunction with one another forming a hand grip throughout substantially the full vertical height of said door closure at one side thereof for applying a manual force to said door for moving it between open and closed positions.

7. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising a sheet metal enclosure including top, bottom, rear and side walls forming a food storage compartment having a front access opening thereto, a sheet metal collar formed on said enclosure continuously around said access opening located at a point recessed from the front edge of said enclosure, a door member for closing said access opening, means on one side of said door member for pivotally connecting it on said enclosure for outward pivotal movement with respect to said enclosure for opening and closing said access opening, said door member including a front panel, a rear panel and side portions for forming an open-ended space, insulation means in said space for reducing heat transfer across said door member, said front panel having one side thereof bent outwardly of said enclosure, one of said side portions being formed of sheet metal having a rolled section including a portion in the plane of said rear panel and a portion located forwardly of the front edge of said enclosure rolled inwardly of said space and outwardly thereof to be joined to said one side of said front panel at a point spaced forwardly of the front edge of said enclosure, said inwardly and outwardly rolled portions. of said rolled section forming a hand grip extending throughout substantially the full vertical height of said door member at one side thereof for applying a manual force to said door member for moving it between open and closed positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 165,935 2/1952 Portanova D564 2,973,235 2/1961 Saunders 3 l2204 3,006,708 10/ 1961 Saunders 312-214 FOREIGN PATENTS 817,193 7/ 1-959 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Assistant Examiner. 

4. A REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING, ENCLOSURE MEANS INCLUDING TOP, BOTTOM, REAR AND SIDE WALLS FORMING A FOOD STORAGE COMPARTMENT HAVING A FRONT ACCESS OPENING THERETO, A DOOR CLOSURE FOR CLOSING SAID ACCESS OPENING, MEANS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID CLOSURE FOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID CLOSURE ON SAID ENCLOSURE FOR OUTWARD PIVOTAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID ENCLOSURE FOR OPENING SAID ACCESS OPENING, SAID DOOR CLOSURE INCLUDING A FRONT PANEL, A REAR PANEL AND FIRST AND SECOND SIDE PORTIONS JOINED TO SAID FRONT AND REAR PANELS TO FORM AN OPEN-ENDED SPACE THEREBETWEEN, INSULATING MEANS FILLING SAID SPACE FOR LIMITING HEAT TRANSFER ACROSS SAID CLOSURE, END CAPS FITTED OVER THE EDGES OF SAID PANELS AND SIDE PORTIONS FOR CLOSING THE END OPENINGS TO SAID SPACE, SAID FRONT PANEL HAVING ONE SIDE THEREOF BENT OUTWARDLY THEREOF, ONE OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS BEING DIRECTED INWARDLY OF SAID SPACE TO FORM A POCKET BEHIND SAID OUTWARDLY 